7

Environmental
Science
Quarter 1 – Module 1:
NATURE AND CONCEPT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
Environmental Science – Grade 7
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 1 – Module 1: Nature and Concept of Environmental Science
First Edition, 2020

Republic Act 8293, section 176 states that: No copyright shall subsist in any work
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Every effort has been exerted to locate and seek permission to use these materials from
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ownership over them.

Published by the Department of Education

Secretary: Leonor Magtolis Briones
Undersecretary: Diosdado M. San Antonio

Development Team of the Module

Writer/s: Edgar A. Saddul / Evelyn Balmores
Editors:
Reviewers:
Illustrator:
Layout Artist:
Management Team: Name of Regional Director
Name of CLMD Chief
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Printed in the Philippines by ________________________

Department of Education – Region II

Office Address: ____________________________________________

____________________________________________
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Environmental
Science
Quarter 1 – Module 1:
Nature and Concept of
Environmental Science
Introductory Message
For the facilitator:

Welcome to the Environmental Science – Grade 7 Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM)

Module on Nature and Concept of Environmental Science!

This module was collaboratively designed, developed and reviewed by educators

both from public and private institutions to assist you, the teacher or facilitator in
helping the learners meet the standards set by the K to 12 Curriculum while
overcoming their personal, social, and economic constraints in schooling.

This learning resource hopes to engage the learners into guided and independent
learning activities at their own pace and time. Furthermore, this also aims to help
learners acquire the needed 21st century skills while taking into consideration
their needs and circumstances.

In addition to the material in the main text, you will also see this box in the body of
the module:

Notes to the Teacher

This contains helpful tips or strategies
that will help you in guiding the learners.

As a facilitator you are expected to orient the learners on how to use this module.
You also need to keep track of the learners' progress while allowing them to
manage their own learning. Furthermore, you are expected to encourage and assist
the learners as they do the tasks included in the module.

2
For the learner:

Welcome to the Environmental Science Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) Module on

Nature and Concept of Environmental Science.

Through our hands we may learn, create and accomplish. Hence, the hand in this
learning resource signifies that you as a learner is capable and empowered to
successfully achieve the relevant competencies and skills at your own pace and
time. Your academic success lies in your own hands!

This module was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful opportunities
for guided and independent learning at your own pace and time. You will be
enabled to process the contents of the learning resource while being an active
learner.

This module has the following parts and corresponding icons:

What I Need to Know This will give you an idea of the skills or
competencies you are expected to learn in
the module.

What I Know This part includes an activity that aims to

check what you already know about the
lesson to take. If you get all the answers
correct (100%), you may decide to skip this
module.

What’s In This is a brief drill or review to help you link

the current lesson with the previous one.

What’s New In this portion, the new lesson will be

introduced to you in various ways such as a
story, a song, a poem, a problem opener, an
activity or a situation.

What is It This section provides a brief discussion of

the lesson. This aims to help you discover
and understand new concepts and skills.

What’s More This comprises activities for independent

practice to solidify your understanding and
skills of the topic. You may check the
answers to the exercises using the Answer
Key at the end of the module.

What I Have Learned This includes questions or blank

sentence/paragraph to be filled in to process
what you learned from the lesson.

What I Can Do This section provides an activity which will

help you transfer your new knowledge or
skill into real life situations or concerns.

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 Assessment This is a task which aims to evaluate your
level of mastery in achieving the learning
competency.

Additional Activities In this portion, another activity will be given

to you to enrich your knowledge or skill of
the lesson learned. This also tends retention
of learned concepts.

Answer Key This contains answers to all activities in the

module.

At the end of this module you will also find:

References This is a list of all sources used in

developing this module.

The following are some reminders in using this module:

1. Use the module with care. Do not put unnecessary mark/s on any part of
the module. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises.
2. Don’t forget to answer What I Know before moving on to the other activities
included in the module.
3. Read the instruction carefully before doing each task.
4. Observe honesty and integrity in doing the tasks and checking your
answers.
5. Finish the task at hand before proceeding to the next.
6. Return this module to your teacher/facilitator once you are through with it.
If you encounter any difficulty in answering the tasks in this module, do not
hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator. Always bear in mind that you are
not alone.

We hope that through this material, you will experience meaningful learning
and gain deep understanding of the relevant competencies. You can do it!

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 What I Need to Know

This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help
you master the nature and concept of Environmental Science. The scope of this
module permits it to be used in many different learning situations. The language
used recognizes the diverse vocabulary level of students. The lessons are arranged
to follow the standard sequence of the course. But the order in which you read
them can be changed to correspond with the textbook you are now using.

The module is all about the Nature and Concept of Environmental Science.

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. Define Environmental Science;
2. Differentiate Environment and Environmental Science; Environmentalist
and Environmental Scientist;
3. Understand Scientific Method in Exploring the Environment; and
4. Appreciate the importance of Environmental Science in sustaining life.

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 What I Know
Directions: Read the statements/ questions carefully. Encircle the letter of the
correct answer.

1. Which of the following defines Environmental Science?

a. An interdisciplinary academic field that integrates only physical and
information sciences.
b. The sum total of all the external forces, influences and conditions, which
affect the life, nature, behavior and the growth, development and maturation
of living organisms.
c. The surrounding external conditions influencing development or growth of
people, animal or plants.
d. The study of the interactions between the physical, chemical, and
biological components of the natural world, including their effects on all
types of organisms and how humans impact their surroundings.
2. Which of the following is an abiotic component of the environment?
a. soil
b. plants
c. animals
d. bacteria
3. Which of the following describes environmentalism?
a. green politics
b. field of physical phenomena in the environment
c. Sum total of all the external forces, influences and conditions, which affect
the life, nature, behavior and the growth, development and maturation of
living organisms
d. the study of the effects of natural and unnatural processes, and of
interactions of the physical components of the planet on the environment
4. Which of the following ecosystems are maintained artificially by man?
a. man-made
b. marine
c. artificial
d. brackish
5. Which of the following individual promotes environmental awareness and
advocates for the protection of the environment?
a. Environmental scientist
b. Environmental science
c. Environmentalist
d. Environmentalism
6. The biotic and abiotic components constitute the structure of an ______________.
a. environment
b. energy flow
c. ecosystem
d. atmosphere
7. Which of the following tools in environmental science is considered to be widely
used by scientists to make most of their discoveries?
a. scientific method
b. correlation method
c. statistics
d. models

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8. Which collectively comprises all species on Earth together with their
environments?
a. lithosphere
b. hydrosphere
c. atmosphere
d. biosphere

9. Which of the following best defines a population?

a. individuals in a species
b. species in a community
c. communities in an ecosystem
d. individuals in a family
10. Which of the following is a component of social environment?
a. Moral, cultural and emotional forces
b. Open and closed society
c. Geographical climate and weather
d. Person and his goal

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Lesson
Nature and Concept of
1 Environmental Science
Environmental studies help us understand the importance of our
environment and teach us to use natural resources more efficiently and embrace a
sustainable way of living. How far man influences nature and to what extent nature
delivers its bounties constitute another objective of environmental studies.

What’s In

Directions: Complete the SmartArt Graphics by choosing the letter of the correct
answer from the box.
Activity 1: The Box has the Key

a. Environmentalism f. sources
b. soil g. air
c. growth h. Environmental science
d. water i. transport
e. effect j. phenomena

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 Notes to the Teacher
This contains helpful tips or strategies that will help you in
guiding the learners.

Based on the activity “the box has the key”, the teacher should consider the
answer of students especially in numbers 2, 3, and 4 and 5, 6, and 7 if it is
interchanged. The aim of the activity is just to stress the definition of
Environmental science for the students to internalize. The teacher may also modify
the words used in the choices for convenience purposes.

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 What’s New
You might think you know the environment pretty well, but do you really
know what’s going on in our environment?

Environment is the surrounding external conditions influencing development

or growth of people, animal or plants; living or working conditions. Moreover, it
comprises various types of forces such as physical, intellectual, economic, political,
cultural, social, moral and emotional.
Scope of Environment
1. Atmosphere:

 The atmosphere implies the protective blanket of gases, surrounding the

earth.
 It sustains life on the earth.
 It saves us from the hostile environment of outer space.
 It absorbs most of the cosmic rays from outer space and a major portion of
the electromagnetic radiation from the sun.
 The atmosphere is composed of nitrogen and oxygen besides argon, carbon
dioxide and trace gases.
2. Hydrosphere:

 Comprises all types of water resources oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, streams,
reservoir, polar icecaps, glaciers, and ground water.
 97% of the earth’s water supply is in the oceans.
 About 2% of the water resources is locked in the polar icecaps and glaciers.
 Only about 1% is available as fresh surface water-rivers, lakes streams, and
ground water fit to be used for human consumption and other uses.
3. Lithosphere:

 The outer mantle of the solid earth. It consists of minerals occurring in the
earth’s crusts and the soil e.g. minerals, organic matter, air and water.
4. Biosphere:

 The realm of living organisms and their interactions with environment,

atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere.

Elements of Environment
1. Physical elements

 Physical elements are as space, landforms, water bodies, climate soils, rocks
and minerals.
 They determine the variable character of the human habitat, its
opportunities as well as limitations.
2. Biological elements

 Biological elements such as plants, animals, microorganisms and men

constitute the biosphere.
3. Cultural elements

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  Cultural elements such as economic, social and political elements are
essentially manmade features, which make cultural milieu.

TYPES OF ENVIRONMENT
1. Physical Environment

 It refers to geographical climate and weather or physical conditions

wherein and individual lives. The human races are greatly influenced
by the climate.
Examples:

 The human working efficiency also depends on the climatic

conditions.
 The physique of an individual depends on climate conditions as the
individual tries to adjust in his physical environment.
2. Social Environment

 Social Environment includes an individual’s social, economic and

political condition wherein he lives.
 The moral, cultural and emotional forces influence the life and nature
of individual behavior.

CATEGORIES OF A SOCIETY:

 An open society is very conductive for the individual development.

 A closed society is not very conductive for the development.

3. Psychological Environment

 Enables us to understand the personality of an individual.

 Both the person and his goal form psychological environment.
 If a person is unable to overcome the barriers, he can either get
frustrated or completed to change his goal for a new psychological
environment.

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Environment, Environmentalism and Environmental Science;
Environmentalist and Environmental Scientist
How do they differ? To test your background knowledge, let’s do the Match Maker.

Activity 2: The Match Maker

Directions: Match the word/s in Column A to its possible definition in Column B.

COLUMN A COLUMN B
1. Environmentalism A. Specialist who studies, collects, and analyzes data
pertaining to environmental conditions and problems.
2. Environmental B. Sum total of all the external forces, influences and
science conditions, which affect the life, nature, behavior and the
growth, development and maturation of living organisms.
3. Environmental C. Individual who promotes environmental awareness and
scientist advocates for the protection of the environment.
4. Environment D. Green politics
5. Environmentalist E. Science of physical phenomena in the environment.

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 In this lesson we will investigate the steps involved in the scientific method.
We will also explore how the scientific method is used to solve environmental
problems.

The Scientific Method

All science begins with making observations and asking questions. These
questions are often developed because people want to learn more about what they
are observing. To find the answers to their questions, researchers use the scientific
method, which is a structured technique used to test ideas and potential answers
to scientific questions. Although the specific steps of the scientific method can vary
by discipline, it is widely agreed upon that the fundamental elements of the
scientific method include five steps.
To answer all your questions about how scientific method works, let’s do the
exercises below.

what is it

Directions: supply the missing information for every statement. Choose from the
choices below.

Activity 3: Scientific Method

o ORGANIZE
o MODIFY THE EXPERIMENT
o ANSWER
o COMMUNICATE THE
RESULTS
o INFORMATION
o IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM
o PROCESS
o EDUCATED GUESS
o CREATE AN EXPERIMENT
o QUESTION
o PERFORM AN EXPERIMENT
o PROBLEM
o ANALYZE THE DATA
o FORM A HYPOTHESIS
o STEPS

What is scientific method? It is a ______1._______ that is used to find

______2._______ to questions about the world around us.
Is there only one “scientific method”? No, there are several versions of
the scientific method. Some versions have more ______3._______, while others may
have only a few. However, they all begin with the identification of a ______4._______
or a ______5._______ to be answered based on observations of the world around us
and provides a/n ______6._______ method for conducting and analyzing an
experiment.

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What is hypothesis? It is an ______7._______ based on observations and your
knowledge of the topic.
What is data? It is the ______8._______ gathered during an experiment.

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 What’s More
Directions: Unlock the terms hidden in this WORD SEARCH, use the clues
below as your reference.

Activity 4: IMPORTANCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE IN

SUSTAINING LIFE

E D O M Y L D N E I R F O C E N I E T A R E P O
R X F Y F I M Z E U I C Z V T U E E O M G A C B
H N I B C V L T D T T L N P J Y W V S U A W C J
J V J X R E D W R I M Q C K X Y D P C F R W E O
P H T I E E V I S L R P V S A J A J I T I I N B
W V R K A C L X F I N C B U A N C K L C V K V M
A A M Y T O W B F Z H O N F G P N J F G T K I C
L H U B E F B G A E R P F P O O M W S X C C R E
P E N G P R P L K N V B Q M W T U X S E X Z O A
W D S Y O I A X E A I C X H D W M R A X U W N X
E O D R L E I A V T M A O S B B B M Y G S R M S
M E L R L N C G Z U A W T K R K P Y N H P U E I
U T V B U D O M Z R V N F S U E D P Y J N C N N
S M O O T L A W W A O L S O U R B N N F O P T B
E S U C I Y C B B L B X S V X S L B T U P M A I
A S R U O L R Z U R E W M T N P E T Y C U C L G
C P P N N I H Z Q E W F X O R H S M N O P K P F
K T C A F F G M R S A C W U I N D V O G W O R N
G R N L R E M I E O N E I Q W M H N Y C A S O P
L H T G E S X T Q U Y P S S L P F A K Z E M B S
S V U G E T M K F R Z Q O N D Y R X R Q G B L H
P U E F L Y E E F C D R Y P X L Q I E C D Y E R
K L U H T L K E D E C G P R B T E N Y L E L M K
Y X W K M E G K Y S H J H H S V P M V K Z I S S

1. It guides us to _____________________________our developmental and day-

to-day activities affect environment and how we are affected by changes
in the environmental conditions.
2. It guides us to _____________________________ (that is, clean air, water,
land, and food) by adopting different methods of preventing and
controlling pollution.
3. It guides us to _____________________________such as water, forest,
minerals, and fossil fuels in an efficient manner, that is, with maximum
utility and minimum wastage, by adopting conservation and recycling
strategies.
4. It guides common public to _____________________________.

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 5. It guides industries to _____________________________by adopting clean
and efficient technologies and installing pollution control systems.
6. It guides us to solve complex global ____________________________such as
climate change, ozone-layer depletion, desertification, and energy crisis
by using different interdisciplinary tools and approaches.
7. It guides the entire development process to
_____________________________by ensuring equal distribution of natural
resources between present and future generations, as well as by caring
for nature in every walk of life in a holistic manner.

What I Have Learned

1. I learned that
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

2. I enjoyed most on
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

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 What I Can Do
Activity 5: The Future Depends On Me
Situation:
The world needs new inventions to help its citizens. Fortunately, you are chosen
and appointed to be the world’s greatest inventor. As a response to your duties and
responsibilities worldwide, you are to draft the latest and greatest invention ever
created.

Directions:
In a short bond paper, you are going to draft/draw the
greatest invention ever created.
At the bottom part of the bond paper, you are going to
write an explanation or justification regarding your draft
invention. What is the reason why you drafted such
future invention, in what purpose?

Rubrics:

CATEGORY 5 4 3 2
Graphics - All graphics All graphics All graphics Graphics do
Relevance are related to are related to relate to the not relate to
the topic and the topic and topic. Most the topic OR
make it easier most make it borrowed several
to easier to graphics have borrowed
understand. understand. a source graphics do
All borrowed All borrowed citation. not have a
graphics have graphics have source
a source a source citation.
citation. citation.
Graphics - Several of the One or two of The graphics No graphics
Originality graphics used the graphics are made by made by the
on the draft used on the the student, student are
reflect a draft reflect but are based included.
exceptional student on the
degree of creativity in designs or
student their creation ideas of
creativity in and/or others.
their creation display.
and/or
display.

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Required The draft All required All but 1 of Several
Elements includes all elements are the required required
required included on elements are elements were
elements as the draft. included on missing.
well as the draft.
additional
information.
Attractiveness The draft is The draft is The draft is The draft is
exceptionally attractive in acceptably distractingly
attractive in terms of attractive messy or very
terms of design, layout though it may poorly
design, and neatness. be a bit designed. It is
layout, and messy. not attractive.
neatness.
Grammar There are no There is 1 There are 2 There are
grammatical grammatical grammatical more than 2
mistakes on mistake that mistakes that grammatical
that explains explains the explain the mistakes that
the draft. draft. draft. explain the
draft.

Assessment

Directions: Read the statements/ questions carefully. Encircle the letter of the
correct answer.
1. Which of the following defines Environmental Science?
a. An interdisciplinary academic field that integrates only physical and
information sciences.
b. The study of the interactions between the physical, chemical, and
biological components of the natural world, including their effects on all
types of organisms and how humans impact their surroundings.
c. The sum total of all the external forces, influences and conditions, which
affect the life, nature, behavior and the growth, development and maturation
of living organisms.
c. The surrounding external conditions influencing development or growth of
people, animal or plants.
2. Which of the following scope of environment saves us from the hostile
environment of outer space?
a. Hydrosphere
b. Lithosphere
c. Biosphere
d. Atmosphere
3. Which of the following types of environment refers to geographical climate and
weather or physical conditions wherein and individual lives?
a. Psychological Environment
b. Cultural Environment
c. Physical Environment

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 d. Social Environment
4. Which of the following is a specialist who studies, collects, and analyzes data
pertaining to environmental conditions and problems?
a. Environmental scientist
b. Environmental science
c. Environmentalist
d. Environmentalism
5. Science seeks to acquire knowledge and understanding of reality through the
formulation, testing, and evaluating of ___________.
a. Deductive reasoning
b. Theories
c. Technology
d. Scientific method
6. Which of the following scientist must do to test a hypothesis?
a. Don’t reason deductively
b. Accurately predict the outcome of tests
c. Ignore test implications of the hypothesis
d. Derive a test implication from the hypothesis
7. Which of the following deals with the study of the relationship between living
organisms and the environment?
a. Ecosystem
b. Environment
c. Community
d. Ecology
8. Which of the following could not take the form of an observation?
a. descriptions
b. drawings
c. predictions
d. measurements
9. Which of the following is the factor that changes in an experiment in order to
test a hypothesis?
a. Variable
b. Prediction
c. Observation
d. Experiment
10. Which of the following is a procedure that is carried out under controlled
conditions to discover, demonstrate, or test a fact, theory, or general truth?
a. Hypothesis
b. Prediction
c. Variable
d. Experiment

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 Additional Activities
Directions: Supply the missing boxes using the set of clues below.
10
Across
2. Elements of the environment such as
plants, animals, microorganisms and men
constitute the biosphere.
7. The outer mantle of the solid earth.
8. The realm of living organisms
9. It implies the protective blanket of gases,
surrounding the earth.
10. A type of environment that includes
individuals social, economic and political
condition wherein he lives.
4 5
Down
1. A systematic way of learning about the
world around us and answering questions.
3. A type of environment that enables us to
understand the personality of an individual.
4. A type of environment that refers to
geographical climate and weather or physical
conditions wherein and individual lives.
5. Comprises all types of water resources
oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, streams, reservoir,
polar icecaps, glaciers, and ground water.
6. The surrounding external conditions
influencing development or growth of people,
animal or plants; living or working
conditions.
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 Answer Key
What I know
1. D 6. C
2. A 7. A
3. A 8. D
4. A 9. A
5. C 10. B

What’s in

1. H 5. B
2. E 6. D in any order
3. F in any order 7. G
4. I

What’s New

1. D
2. E
3. A
4. B
5. C

What’s is it
1. Process 11. Create an experiment
2. Answers 12. Perform an experiment
3. Steps 13. Analyze the data
4. Problem 14. Modify the experiment
5. Question 15. Communicate the results
6. Organize
7. Educated guess
8. Information
9. Identify the problem
10. Form a hypothesis

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Assessment
1. B 6. D
2. D 7. D
3. C 8. D
4. A 9. A
5. B 10. D

Additional Activities

References
Retrieved from:

https://study.com/academy/lesson/the-scientific-method-applied-to-environmental-problems-
definition-steps-and-applications.html
https://www.tutorialspoint.com/environmental_studies/index.htm
https://wordmint.com/puzzles/2632152
http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php?screen
https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-environmental-science-4121684
http://ecoursesonline.iasri.res.in/mod/page/view.php?id=128611

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